Routines & transitions
Brushing Teeth Social Story
A step-by-step social story that takes brushing from the dab of toothpaste to the final rinse, and, unusually, tells the truth about the hard parts: the toothpaste might taste strong, the brush might tickle, and those feelings pass. Read it in full below, then personalize and print.
The story
Read the full story below. In the maker you can add your child's name, swap pictures, and print it as a booklet.
My Tooth Brushing Story
A social story about brushing my teeth
- 1
Brushing my teeth keeps my mouth healthy and clean.Describes - 2
I brush my teeth in the morning and before bed.Describes - 3
First I put a small dab of toothpaste on my toothbrush.Describes - 4
I brush the front teeth, the back teeth, and the tops where I chew.Describes - 5
I can hum a song while I brush so every tooth gets a turn.Coaches - 6
The toothpaste might taste strong, or the brush might tickle. Those feelings pass.Describes - 7
When I am done, I spit the toothpaste into the sink and rinse my toothbrush.Describes - 8
If brushing feels hard, I can ask a grown-up for help.Coaches - 9
Brushing helps keep my teeth healthy so I can chew my favorite foods.Describes
When to use this story
Use this story when brushing sparks refusals, gagging complaints, or nightly negotiation. Read it away from the bathroom first, at a calm time, then again just before brushing. Pair it with the same order every time, morning and night, so the story and the routine reinforce each other.
The story validates the sensory reality instead of talking past it. The toothpaste might taste strong, or the brush might tickle, those feelings pass, tells a child their experience is real and survivable, which lands very differently from being told it is not a big deal.
Each mechanical step gets its own page: a small dab of toothpaste, front teeth, back teeth, the tops where chewing happens, then spitting into the sink and rinsing the brush. The humming page is a duration trick, humming a song gives every tooth a turn without a timer or an argument.
If taste is the sticking point, the story helps most alongside a practical change, like a milder or unflavored toothpaste. Edit the story to name the actual toothpaste and brush your child uses so the pages match what they see at the sink.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a brushing teeth social story teach?
- The full sequence, toothpaste on the brush, front teeth, back teeth, chewing surfaces, spit, and rinse, plus why it matters: keeping teeth healthy for chewing favorite foods. This one also prepares your child for the sensory moments, the strong taste and the tickle, and offers asking for help when it feels hard.
- My child hates the taste of toothpaste. Does the story help?
- It helps by naming the experience in advance, the toothpaste might taste strong, and framing it as a feeling that passes. Many families combine the story with a switch to a milder, unflavored, or different-textured toothpaste. Edit the story to mention the new toothpaste by name if you switch.
- How often should we read the story?
- Once a day at a calm time is a good rhythm, plus a quick look right before brushing while it is still new. After a few weeks the story can retire to as-needed rereads, like after a break in routine or before a dentist visit.
- Is this story printable for free?
- Yes. The whole story is on this page, and the maker builds the printable booklet free of charge. Adding your child's name, or a photo of their own toothbrush, makes the booklet theirs.
- Can I shorten or reword the pages?
- Yes. In the maker you can cut pages for a younger child, rewrite any sentence, change pictures, and switch between I and your child's name. Some families add a final page showing the exact reward or next step that follows brushing at home.
- Who developed social stories?
- Social Stories were developed by Carol Gray in the early 1990s. The gentle version of this template follows her published guidance, including describing more than coaching, but Spectrum Unlocked is not affiliated with or endorsed by Carol Gray.
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Related guides
Social Stories were developed by Carol Gray. Spectrum Unlocked is not affiliated with or endorsed by Carol Gray; the gentle version of this template follows her published describe-more-than-coach guidance.